| HOW TO MAKE IT |
This is a quick DIY not only in the time that it takes to make, but in the time you have to make it.
Having not worked with plaster before, please learn from me and make sure you have all your DIY items ready and close at hand - this is no lazy Sunday afternoon make.

The main component, the plaster, is not to be messed with - once you activate it with the water -you have to move! The packet gives you an idea of the plaster:water ratio, however; I found the amount of water needed much higher - have a cup of water handy so you can slowly and in short bursts add it to the mix:

Keep stirring the plaster until smooth - add extra water if you feel it harden and have your moulds at the ready!

As soon as you are happy with the consistency, pour the plaster in to the mould, tapping the mould on your surface to flatten the mixture and remove any air bubbles as you go. In the time it took me to fill three moulds, the plaster had already started to harden - so I added my paperclips straight away:
They stood vertically with no assistance, just to give you an idea of how quick the drying time is.
Thinking I may need to leave them overnight, I couldn't resist a test after lunch [about 2 hours later] and realised they were completely dry - the drying time is relative and these small gems just required a couple of hours before they could be removed from the mould.....

... ready to display some little postcards to add some colour and positivity to my office and desk space:

I love the white wash finish to the plaster, but you can personalise these with colour and texture to suit your style and space:

I think I've found another new DIY love - expect a few more plaster makes soon!

This is a home decor DIY I've been thinking about for a while. I wanted an alternative to the previous methods I had seen to make crystals: something quick and inexpensive - with easily found materials, a decoration on a larger scale and something where the result would be as realistic as I could make.

Start by preparing your polystyrene shape - remove any excess and don't worry about making the shape a little rough around the edges - it will all add to the texture and interest of the final crystal.

Paint the shape with a couple of coats of your chosen base colour and leave to dry completely. To add depth and detail to the crystal, I also painted the inside of the rim and centre:

...and because the crystal wont be sparkly enough for me, I added a little glitter to the centre, which would show through any small gaps:Build the crystal, starting from the centre out. Add glue in small sections and pour in your crushed glass until it sets. Remove the excess and continue the process:

In addition to the paint, I created depth to the crystal by using two colours of crushed glass. I started with the dark grey glass in the centre and then used a clear crushed glass :

Once the inside of the crystal was complete, I added glue around the rim in a more irregular way to give the effect of a crystal chipped away from it's rock:

The hot glue means that your finished crystal is ready to display immediately:

This DIY is so simple to make and can be tailored to any colour scheme or interior style. I think it may be the first of many. Let me know if you give this one a go and tag me in any photographic evidence!